Croessman 'showing improvement' after medical event, family says

John Croessman, managing editor of the Du Quoin Evening Call, and a fixture of the newspaper for more than 40 years, was showing some improvement Monday night, after he was rushed to a local hospital following a medical event at the office during the day.

His family, who surrounded him at the hospital, was not prepared to talk about his condition on Monday, as tests were still being done to confirm what had happened.

However, "He is showing improvement," said his daughter, Angela Nelson, adding he is conscious and the family remains with him. She said her father"s condition at present is day to day.

Croessman, 64, joined the Evening Call after he graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1974.

He was on the minds of the Du Quoin City Council Monday night, where he has been the leading "inquiring mind" for four decades.

City attorney Aaron Atkins"s invocation urged Croessman"s friends and colleagues to pray for him and the Croessman family, and one by one, each member of the council and the mayor offered their own heartfelt tribute, hoping for his speedy recovery.

Croessman"s son, Andrew, is the Du Quoin city clerk and the director of budget and finance.

The Evening Call"s office was deluged with phone calls and visitors Monday, as word spread about town.

Nelson said she recognizes the people will want to call, and she made her own cell number available to the public: (618) 357-0705. People who wish to send cards can mail them directly to the Evening Call office, at 9 N. Division St., P.O. Box 184, Du Quoin, Illinois, 62832.

"He is a good man, a pillar of the community," said Commissioner Michael Ward.

Mayor Guy Alongi said one thing he has always appreciated about Croessman is that he recognizes there is always more than one side of every story. "He always tries to find something good, even in a bad story," Alongi said.